Topical neurological stimulation

• US 10,307,591 B2
• Filed: 07/14/2017
• Issued: 06/04/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Neurostim Solutions LLC
• Original Assignee: Neurostim Solutions LLC
• Inventors: Creasey, Graham H., Toong, Hoo-Min
• Primary Examiner(s): Mahmood, Nadia A
• Application Number:
  US15/650,228
• Publication Number:
  US 20170312512A1
• Time in Patent Office: 690 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/24 Detecting, measuring or recording bioelectric or biomagnetic signals of the body or parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4836 Diagnosis combined with treatment in closed-loop systems or methods A61B5/0036 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0452 Specially adapted for transcutaneous muscle stimulation [TMS]
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0456 Specially adapted for transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation [TENS]
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0476 Array electrodes (including any electrode arrangement with more than one electrode for at least one of the polarities)
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0492 Patch electrodes A61N1/0412, A61N1/0428 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36003 of motor muscles, e.g. for walking assistance
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36007 of urogenital or gastrointestinal organs, e.g. for incontinence control
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36021 for treatment of pain
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36031 using physiological parameters for adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36034 specified by the stimulation parameters

Abstract

A topical nerve stimulator patch and system are provided comprising a dermal patch; an electrical signal generator associated with the patch; a signal receiver to activate the electrical signal generator; a power source for the electrical signal generator associated with the patch; an electrical signal activation device; and a nerve feedback sensor.

Claims

1. A topical nerve stimulator system comprising:

a flexible dermis conforming patch defining a surface and formed by a substrate;

electrodes positioned on the patch proximal the surface and directly coupled to the substrate;

electronic circuitry embedded in the patch comprising a system on a chip that is directly coupled to the substrate and comprising;

an electrical signal generator configured to electrically activate the electrodes;

a signal receiver in communication with the electrical signal generator;

an antenna;

a transmitter; and

a receiver;

a remote control device in wireless communication with the electronic circuitry, the remote control device configured to provide a signal to start stimulation on a user via the electrodes, the signal generated in response to the user interacting with the remote control device.

2. The topical nerve stimulator system of claim 1, the surface further comprises adhesive.

3. The topical nerve stimulator system of claim 1, further comprising a feedback sensor on the patch coupled to the substrate and configured to sense muscle and/or nerve activation and communicate data to the remote control device.

4. The topical nerve stimulator system of claim 1, the remote control device is a smartphone and the signal is generated via a smartphone app.

5. The topical nerve stimulator system of claim 1, the remote control device is a key fob controller comprising a button and the signal is generated via a pressing of the button.

6. The topical nerve stimulator system of claim 3, the stimulation based on a stimulation pattern that is revised in response to the sensed muscle and/or nerve activation.

7. The topical nerve stimulator system of claim 1, the electrodes configured to stimulate a mammalian nerve.

8. The topical nerve stimulator system of claim 1, the remote control device comprising a user interface configured to provide visual, audio and tactile feedback to a user.

9. A method for controlling a body function of a user comprising:

applying a flexible dermis conforming patch to a dermis of the user in proximity to a selected nerve, the patch formed by a substrate and comprising electrodes directly coupled to the substrate, electronic circuitry embedded in the patch comprising a system on a chip that is directly coupled to the substrate and comprising an electrical signal generator configured to electrically activate the electrodes, a signal receiver in communication with the electric signal generator, an antenna, a transmitter and a receiver;

applying an electrical signal generated by the flexible dermis conforming patch to the selected nerve; and

sensing nerve stimulation response;

the applying in response to a signal to start stimulation on the user via the electrodes from a remote control device in wireless communication with the electronic circuitry, the signal generated in response to the user interacting with the remote control device.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising monitoring the nerve response to the electrical signal and adjusting a nerve stimulation pattern that is revised in response to the nerve response.

11. The method of claim 9 further comprising monitoring a muscle response to the nerve stimulation and adjusting a nerve stimulation pattern that is revised in response to the nerve response.

12. The method of claim 9, the remote control device is a smartphone and the signal is generated via a smartphone app.

13. The method of claim 9, the remote control device is a key fob controller comprising a button and the signal is generated via a pressing of the button.

14. The method of claim 9 further comprising applying the flexible dermis conforming patch to the dermis with adhesive.

15. The method of claim 9 further comprising applying more than one flexible dermis conforming patches to the dermis.

16. The method of claim 9 further comprising stimulating more than one nerve with one or more flexible dermis conforming patches to create a nerve stimulation pattern.

17. The method of claim 9 further comprising applying the electrical signal to a selected portion of a nerve.

18. The method of claim 9 further comprising selectively adjusting a strength of the electrical signal.

19. The method of claim 9 further comprising selectively adjusting a shape of the electrical signal.

20. The method of claim 9 further comprising receiving a signal feedback from a stimulated nerve.

21. The method of claim 9 further comprising receiving feedback from a stimulated nerve and adjusting the electrical signal based on the feedback.

22. The method of claim 9, the remote control device comprising a user interface configured to provide visual, audio and tactile feedback to a user.

23. A topical nerve stimulator patch comprising:

a substrate;

electrodes positioned on the patch proximal the surface and directly coupled to the substrate;

electronic circuitry embedded in the patch comprising a system on a chip that is directly coupled to the substrate and comprising;

an electrical signal generator configured to electrically activate the electrodes;

a signal receiver in communication with the electrical signal generator;

an antenna;

a transmitter; and

a receiver;

the electrical circuitry configured to be in wireless communication with a remote control device, the remote control device configured to provide a signal to start stimulation on a user via the electrodes, the signal generated in response to the user interacting with the remote control device.

24. The topical nerve stimulator patch of claim 23, further comprising a feedback sensor on the patch coupled to the substrate and configured to sense muscle and/or nerve activation and communicate data to the remote control device.

25. The topical nerve stimulator patch of claim 24, the stimulation based on a stimulation pattern that is revised in response to the sensed muscle and/or nerve activation.